Improvement in machines for sizing and felting hat-bodies



- UNITED STATESl VPArEnrr OFFICE.

Ann AEEAM'c. wHEA'roN, orV sAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR SIZING AND FELTING HAT-BODIES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 108,715, dated yOctober2.5, 1870.

To all whom it may concern v Be .it known that I, GEORGE A. MANDE-vILLE, of N ewark,in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented a new and Improved Machine for Sizing and Fulling Hat-Bodies,of which the followings aspeciication. v

My machine is constructed with a stationary concave, bed and anoscillating presser, the surfaces of the said bed and 'presserconstituting parallel arcs concentric with the axis on which the presservibrates. The surface of the presser is preferably corrugated, andeither or both surfaces may be formed of sheet metal, or of india-rubberor wood, as preferred. Wedgesare employed to adjust the height of thebed relatively to the presser, andthe bearings ofthe latter are providedwith springsl and adjusting screws. Oscillation may be communicated tothe presser by means of a crank-shaft and connecting-rod. Aw suitableappliance is provided to discharge steam through' the bed into thefabricunder treatment.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of myimproved machine. Fig. 2 is a vvertical transverse section thereof.

A represents the base of the machine, upon which the concave bed B issupported adjust-` ably by wedges C C connected to Va yoke, D, and slidin and out as required by a lever, `E. The concave surface of the bed Bvmay be formed of slats, some of which are perforated, as shown at b b,to admit of steambeing passed through the bed to assist the operation.

E F are standards, iny which are mounted the bearings G G of a shaft, H.

I I are arms depending from the shaft H, so as to oscillate therewith.The said arms carry a presser, J, which has a convex surface concentricwith its axis of vibration. rlhe concave surface of the bed B is alsoabout concentric with the shaft H, and hence the working surfaces of thepresser and bed will be about parallel. I prefer to make the surface ofthe presser corrugated, of sheet zinc or other metal, as shown at j, butit may be of indiarubber, wood, or other material, if preferred.

The boxes or bearings G'G are held down by springs K K, of rubber,metal, wood, or other material, and set-screws L L, so as to exert an,elastic pressure, which may be regulated as required.

A cranklshaft, IM, mounted in standards N N, imparts a vibratory motionto the presser J through the medium of a connecting-rod, O,

the wrist on which it Works having a radial adjustment in the crankwheelM to regulate the length of stroke. The other end of the connecting-rodhas a deep notch or recess engaging over a pin, z', on one of the armsI, so that it may be detached at will.

S represents a hat-body in course of being sized or fulled, and T atowel or scaldingcloth77 in which it is wrapped.

Operation: The hat-body having beenscald- Y .Y

ed or steamed and then rolled in the scaldingcloth in the usual way, theroll is introduced beneath the presser with .the cloth partiallyunrolled. A reciprocating motion being then main in any position, andthe work inserted, L

removed, arranged, or adjusted as desired.

The machine may be run by 'any power or by hand. By its means the sameeHect is pro-. duced on the hat-bodies as inthe usual hand process, andwith much greater ease and expedition, and with better effect. Severalrolls may be treated at one and the same time by a single operative, andin this way the time and labor of several men may be saved.

For some classes of work a smoothrubbng surface will be found moredesirable; but f or others the corrugated surface here represented` ismuch preferable.

I claim as my invention-4 l 1. The machine for sizing and fulling hat--v bodies, constructed as herein described, with the concave bed B,adjusting-supports C, and swinging presser J, with yielding andadjustable bearings, vall substantially as set forth. .Y

- 2. The inclined supports C C and the lever E, or other equivalentdevicefor adjusting the same, for supporting the bed B at any height.

GEOEGE A. MANnEviLLE.

Witnesses: A

J oEN DANE, Jr., LEwis D. CRANs.

